Knowledge Base

Wireless Networking Issues

This article provides helpful information and links for basic wireless network troubleshooting. More specifically, this article focus' on 802.11a/b/g/n networks. This article does not cover Mobile Broadband (cellular based wireless) or Bluetooth (also known as WPAN).

SSID: The Service Set Identifier. This is the name of the network you're interested in joining. Wireless networks can be configured to broadcast this SSID, or to hide the SSID. If the SSID is broadcast, it will be listed in the "Wireless networks available". If the SSID is NOT broadcast, you'll need to know exactly how it is spelled and capitalized in order to join the network.

Security Type: This is the type of encryption used on the network to keep data secure. Windows may figure this out for you, but it's important to know what type of security is being used. This also controls what type of security key and passphrase you can use. The common options for security are listed below in order of their security level. No security is the least secure and WPA2 is the most secure.

No security (also known as open)

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) 64 bit

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) 128 bit

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) options include AES and TKIP

Wi-Fi Protected Access version 2 (WPA2) also including AES and TKIP

Security Key or Passphrase: This is the actual key used to encrypt the data. Without this key or phrase being correct, it is not possible to understand the data flowing across the network. This is basically like the secret knock or "open sesame" secret phrase.

Distance from the Access Point or router: The range of acceptable signal strength varies significantly between Wi-Fi types but a good rule of thumb is 120 feet indoors, and 300 feet outdoors.

Line of Site: Anything between the access point and the device will reduce signal strength and range. Some materials have more impact than others. Dense wood (such as oak) and metal have the most impact. Sheetrock and cloth have a very minimal impact. Utility closets, wood cabinets, metal piping and restrooms between the access point and the device will dramatically reduce signal strength.

Channel Signal Overlap: A Wi-Fi signal occupies five channels in the 2.4 GHz band; any two channels whose channel numbers differ by five or more, such as 2 and 7, do not overlap. The oft-repeated adage that channels 1, 6, and 11 are the only non-overlapping channels is, therefore, not accurate; channels 1, 6, and 11 are the only group of three non-overlapping channels in the U.S. Other Wi-Fi networks in the area on overlapping networks may be interfering.